Istanbul: the new party capital of Europe

Posted on 7 June 2011

Baba Zula and his band. Photo: Slawomira Kozieniec

I enjoy living in the most exciting city of the world: Istanbul. Over the last ten years this dynamic, bustling, chaotic and creative metropolis on the Bosporus has become more international and multicultural.

The growing popularity of the city with exchange students from Europe, the U.S. and elsewhere, and an ever growing number of tourists and expats hasn’t gone unnoticed by the international media and think tanks.

A recent study by the Washington-based Brookings Institution, in a joint investigation with the LSE Cities project, judged that Istanbul had beaten Beijing and Shanghai to claim the title of 2010’s most dynamic city.

The readers of the New York Times chose Istanbul as their desired number 1 destination for this year.

And veteran reporter and long time resident of Istanbul Andrew Finkel gave his city a new title; the new party capital of Europe

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I couldn’t agree more. The diversity of restaurants, night clubs and bars is expanding at an unbelievable pace.

And the more expensive night clubs with stunning views of the Bosporus like Reina and Angelique.

Not only banks, hotel chains, entrepreneurs, students and tourists are discovering the opportunities, dynamism and fun in the city. Also artists, musicians and the international art community are eager to be part of the amazing buzz of this city.

Sotheby’s recently opened a venue in Istanbul. And this is only the beginning of what is likely to become a new golden age of mighty old Istanbul.

I would like to suggest a new slogan for the city: ‘You ain’t seen nothing yet’.